Hyperemesis Gravidarum Pregnant women are vulnerable to Hyperemesis Gravidarum which is a very uncomfortable condition where severe nausea followed by vomiting, appreciable sudden weight loss and substantial electrolyte disturbances in the body.

If the attacks are bearable and not consistent the pregnant woman could be treated by the healthcare provider without recourse to a doctor or hospital.

This could be done with a few changes in the diet, recommending complete rest for a few days till the condition improves, and the prescribing of mild antacids which would be considered safe especially for pregnant women.

If the condition of Hyperemesis Gravidarumdoes does not subside and worsens then a doctor would need to be consulted and a few days in a hospital under close observation would be required.

In the hospital treatment employing an intravenous (IV) line, the mother would be administered nutrition and other required fluids which would arrest the situation.

No medication should be taken if a pregnant woman is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum without consulting her health care provider or a doctor as it could lead to unnecessary complications.

Statistics record that about 70% to 80% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness with a fair percentage of them experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarum which is a more severe condition compared to the former.

There is also evidence to show that more pregnant women are treated by their healthcare providers for morning sickness and even Hyperemesis Gravidarum placing it at a higher incidence than available records would really show.

Causes for Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Extensive tests are still being conducted to learn the exact causes of morning sickness and the much severe condition of Hyperemesis Gravidarum where it is believed to be the result of hormone disturbances in the body during pregnancies.

The tests have still not been conclusive and further research is being carried out to find the exact cause or causes of the condition so that it could be treated more efficiently.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum strikes women when they usually enter the first 4 to 6 weeks of their pregnancy and could become very severe going into their 9th through to the 13th week.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum could ease off when they enter their 14th through to their 20th week, with some percentage of women experiencing it right throughout their pregnancy which could leave them exhausted and tired.

There are no known ways of preventing Hyperemesis Gravidarum but pregnant women could find solace in the fact that there are effective ways and methods of managing it.

Causes for Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Comparing Morning Sickness with Hyperemesis Gravidarum

It may be necessary to compare and then differentiate between Morning Sickness and Hyperemesis Gravidarum before any woman would enter the bliss of pregnancy because it is inevitable that she would have either of the two conditions when she conceives and becomes pregnant.

Morning Sickness causes nausea only sometimes accompanied by vomiting but Hyperemesis Gravidarum causes nausea and always followed by vomiting.

Nausea in Morning Sickness could subside around 12 weeks or thereabouts into the pregnancy but in Hyperemesis Gravidarum there would not be any respite and the condition would prevail all through the pregnancy.

Vomiting when it is Morning Sickness would not cause acute dehydration but with Hyperemesis Gravidarum vomiting would result in severe dehydration.

In Morning Sickness vomiting would not bring all the food in the stomach and some may remain to provide some relief when it stops but in Hyperemesis Gravidarum vomiting would bring out all the food in the stomach leaving it empty and very uncomfortable.

Hence it is imperative that the condition of Hyperemesis Gravidarum is diagnosed early so that some action could be taken to ease the situation even though there would not be a permanent cure for the situation.

Salient signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum are quite visible when pregnancy occurs and need to be diagnosed early for which the best person would be the healthcare provider.

Regular monitoring of the pregnancy is what the health care providers would be doing hence keeping them apprised to the changing conditions in the body would be imperative so that early detection and hence early action could be initiated.

The following would be some of the telltale signs and symptoms that would be quite evident which would give the impetus to take immediate remedial action.

Severe nausea accompanied by uncontrollable vomiting

Refraining from food intake due to food aversions

5% or more weight loss compared to before pregnancy began

The loss in the urge to urinate

Dehydration

Migraines

A confused state of mind

Frequent bouts of fainting

Body turning a yellowish color

Feeling tired when attending to simple chores

Drop in blood pressure

Increase in heart rate

Changes in the texture of the skin

Feeling depressed

If any of these symptoms are seen it is imperative they are discussed with the health care provider and the best course of action followed before the situation would get aggravated.

Causes for Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Treating Hyperemesis Dravidarum

The health care provider would decide the best course of action and in many cases, hospitalization would be recommended if the condition of Hyperemesis Gravidarum is severe and no chances would be taken.

One or more of the following treatments would be administered in a hospital to ensure that the situation is brought under control.

Fluids administered Intravenously (IV drips) to ensure dehydration is arrested, adequate nutrition is provided, electrolytes are restored and essential vitamins are given to restore optimum balance since food intake is restricted by the consistent vomiting.

Feeding through a nasal tube that would directly enter the stomach so that every possible nutrient, vitamin, and fluids are administered to ensure both the mother and baby are provided optimum food intake.

A feeding tube placed directly into the stomach employing minor surgery, which would provide the nutrition, fluids and all other essentials that the mother and baby would need to survive and ensure a positive outcome to the condition.

Some medications would also be administered

Complete bed rest

Other recommended procedures and help to rectify the problem of Hyperemesis Gravidarum